On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a gorgeous Assouline book.

Here’s an easy way for Santa to score the perfect gift. Assouline books was started by French couple Prosper and Martine Assouline in 1994. They specialize in luxury coffee-table style books. Pick a book, any book. They’re all gorgeous. Just in from Assouline, The Impossible Collection of Fashion. Or, consider one of the dozens of books in the “Memoire” collection that focus on fashion, individually or in boxed sets. You can order on-line or shop in one of their beautiful boutiques. I love the one in New York inside the Plaza Hotel and the free-standing one at 35, rue Bonaparte in Paris.

Today’s expression, ce n’est pas du luxe (suh neh pah due loox) means “it’s not a luxury.” It’s often used ironically, for example, the $650 fashion book isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity!